Katie's Story

Katie Samson grew up in Wayne, PA and attended Radnor High School where she was a goalkeeper for the girls' lacrosse team. Katie went on to study Art History at Middlebury College where she also played Division III lacrosse and helped her team capture a National Championship in 1999. The following winter, Katie's suffered a spinal cord injury while sledding and became a quadriplegic.

After months of rehabilitation and encouragement from family and friends, Katie went back to finish her degree and help coach her college lacrosse team to two more National titles. In 2004 Katie moved to Arizona to pursue her graduate degree where she remained for six years. Katie moved back to the Philadelphia area in 2010 and became an active member of the Katie Samson Foundation.

Currently, Katie is the Assistant Director of Museum Education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Katie loves traveling, exploring new accessible trails for birding, and spending time with her
nieces and nephews. Katie also enjoys storytelling as a creative art form and performs for different organizations in Philadelphia. As a peer mentor for people who have suffered spinal cord injury through Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Katie encourages her mentees to seek out adaptive sports and therapeutic programs that have had such a positive effect on her life.

Event Details

This year marks the 19th anniversary of the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival and will feature a record setting 54 teams. Exciting and competitive games will take place between many of the region’s top-ranked high school lacrosse teams. The event will include a roster of 26 boys teams and 28 girls teams...

Check out the KSLF Facebook Page for event updates!

The Event

The Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival began in 2000 and has grown into the premier high school lacrosse event in the United States. Motivated by Katie’s perseverance and courage; volunteers in the lacrosse community and beyond, support the cause year after year. The festival is filled with activities for the whole family; with exciting lacrosse team match ups, a demonstration of wheelchair sports, food, fan zones, and a spirit of sportsmanship and purpose. With the generous support of over 50 sponsors, donations from attendees, as well as fundraising efforts by each participating lacrosse team, the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival has raised over 1.9 million dollars. We appreciate the tremendous support and we hope to see you at this year’s Festival.

Event Admission

• Adults - $10

• Students - $5

• Under 3 is free!

Event Highlights

• 26 premier boys' teams and 28 premier girls' teams playing regular season games

• Wheelchair rugby, tennis and basketball games

• Print and TV media coverage

• Major sponsors

• 2 Fan Zones, including Katie’s Kiddie Corner, rides, face painting, BBQ, funnel cakes, raffle prizes, clothing, equipment, etc.

• Over $100,000+ raised in 2018 and donated to charities

• $1,900,000+ given back since the start of the festival in 2000